How to Fix a Bowed Wood Stud in a Wall

Slightly Bowed Studs

• 1

  Hold a level horizontally against the wall studs to identify any bowed more than 1/8 inch. Mark any bowed studs with a marker.

• 2

  Hold the level vertically along the bowed stud and draw a straight line to mark the warped wood to remove.

• 3

  Run the power plane steadily over the bowed wood and shave off excess wood, using the marked line as a depth guideline. Double-check the work with the level to see if you need to take off any more wood.

Excessively Bowed Studs

• 4

  Hold the level horizontally along the wall studs and mark any that bow more than 1/2 inch.

• 5

  Cut a series of evenly spaced kerfs, 1 3/4 inches deep and 10 inches apart, along the bowed section of the stud with a circular saw. Do not cut kerfs beyond the bowed section on the stud.

• 6

  Toe-nail a nail at a sharp angle downward through each kerf and pound it gently with a hammer. The cut tightens with each tap on the nail, straightening the bowed section on the stud. Continue hammering nails through the kerfs until the stud straightens.

• 7

  Measure the length of the repaired section of the stud. Cut a piece of 1-inch lumber, either 1 by 2 or 1 by 3, to the measured length. Screw this lumber to the repaired section of stud to reinforce the repair.